Owner Chris Hayes walks throughout the future Oklahoma Pizza Co .
Chelsea Weeks | Progress photo
New Claremore pizza joint to dish out pies in 90 seconds
By Chelsea Weeks Claremore Daily Progress
CLAREMORE – Full-time firefighter and co-owner of JFarley ’ s Chris Hayes is about to open another business in Claremore .
Oklahoma Pizza Co . is a quick , bythe-slice pizza joint with a tentative opening date of April 1 .
“ You can now have pizza for lunch ,” Hayes said . “ You don ’ t have to wait for 45 minutes or go to a buffet .”
Hayes said the oven they will use has unique technology that cooks pizza quickly and gives it a wood-burning taste .
“ We have a pizza oven that will cook a pizza in 90 seconds ,” he said . “ With the hope that by the time someone gets through the line , the pizzas cooked , they ’ re paying and they get their drink .”
Hayes said Oklahoma Pizza Co . will have a variety of options including salad , sandwiches , pizza and beer .
“ You ’ ve got to have those things ,” he said .
Hayes said they have six specialty pizzas ; one pizza will be a spicy option
called Thin Red Line in support of the fire department and another all pork option is called Back the Blue in support of the police department .
“ My intention is to take a portion of the proceeds from both those pizzas and donate them back to …. Some type of charity organization that they ’ re involved in ,” he said .
Hayes said he ’ s always wanted to start a pizza place . He tried experimenting with pizza when JFarley ’ s was at the original location in The Cornerstone , but there wasn ’ t enough kitchen space .
Hayes said he has always loved pizza and his first job was working at Mazzio ’ s in Owasso .
“ They say that 93 % of Americans eat pizza at least once a week ,” he said . “ I could eat pizza every day .”
Red Rock Building owner Emily Dean said when they bought the building they wanted to provide another reason for people to come downtown .
“ We knew we wanted a restaurant in one of the sites ,” she said .
Dean said restaurants bring people downtown and encourage them to con-
14 Tahlequah Daily Press | Green Country Scene • Good Eats • April 2022